When you say “government” in Libya, it’s never immediately apparent who you’re talking about. The group in charge of Tripoli is calling itself a government, but is mostly dominated by the Misrata city militia. The internationally recognized government, by contrast, has almost no territory, but a lot of troops from its merger with the self-proclaimed army of Gen. Khalifa Hifter.
For ISIS, it’s a distinction without a difference however, and the Libya affiliate of the jihadist faction is fighting both at the same time, along with some other smaller factions for good measure.
Forces loyal to the Tripoli government attacked ISIS in Sirte, trying to set up checkpoints around the power plant there. At least five of those “government forces” were killed in subsequent ISIS fighting.
That wasn’t keeping ISIS too busy, apparently, so they also launched a suicide attack against a post belonging to the army of the other Libyan government, east of Benghazi, and started a round of heavy fighting there, with death tolls yet to be released.
The parent ISIS organization has made its ability to fight on several fronts at once a defining feature, and the Libya affiliate, reportedly receiving ongoing advisory support from the parent and a huge influx of recruits, seems to be operating with the same goal in mind, keeping themselves engaged with multiple enemies at once, and enhancing their reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
"The internationally recognized government, by contrast, has almost no territory",and has very little support among Libyans.This so called " internationally recognized government" has no legitimacy in Libya.The Libyan supreme court declared parliament 'unconstitutional' and should be dissolve,however the so International so called community ,it is no a community but charlatans ,has insisted on ignoring and respecting that verdict.This brings to memory the US supreme court case in the Bush vs Gore election.But Libya's laws and court rulings are not to be honored and respected because there are external actors' interests outweigh the Libyan people interests and well being.
he so called"The internationally recognized government" is totally dependent on the financial and military support from UAE ,and Egypt.Hafter is actually the one controlling that government not the other way around.it is very interesting that he has so often said he has no desire or aspire to have any higher position in the government while at the same time was threatening the Tobruk parliament and government with attacks if they did not elevate him to the position of High commander.They even invented a new title and rank for him?
Reading the comments about the crash of the German plane the overwhelming majority responding make look like ISIS was behind that too.